Blows That Cleanse

For Friday, March 2, 2007
Proverbs 20:30

Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.

Blows that come from one who loves you and hates the sin that binds you are essential for your welfare. It is right to be concerned with abuse, but it is as deadly to be denied the chastisement that awakens you to your sin and spurs you to action. It is deadly to be denied love that will not tolerate your sinking into the pit. So the loving parent will inflict punishment on his child to train him in the way of righteousness, however much pain the parent endures to do so.

So it is with our heavenly Father who loves us perfectly. Because he is good and because he loves us thoroughly, he will send the blows that cleanses away evil and makes clean our innermost parts. He will not be satisfied with our half-hearted righteousness and our superficiality. He will not tolerate our disease however contented we may be. He will carry to completion the good work he began in us, whether or not we want further progress.

If you should think that his blows are too hard, that it is bringing death instead of healing, remember the Cross where our Lord "was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).